New Mexico has taken a big step in mental health care and natural wellness. In April 2025, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Medical Psilocybin Act, also known as SB-219, into law.
This new law allows the supervised medical use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in certain types of mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms." With this move, psilocybin therapy is now legal and regulated in New Mexico, making it one of the first programs of its kind in the United States.
What Is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin is a natural chemical found in over 180 species of mushrooms. For hundreds of years, Indigenous people have used these mushrooms in spiritual and healing ceremonies.
Today, scientists are researching psilocybin for its powerful effects on the brain, especially for treating mental health problems like depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and anxiety.
Psilocybin is a psychedelic, meaning it can change the way people think, feel, and experience the world for a short period. But in the right setting and with proper guidance, it can also help people deal with deep emotional pain or trauma.
What the Medical Psilocybin Act Means for New Mexico
The Medical Psilocybin Act creates a legal and safe way to receive psilocybin treatment in New Mexico. This law sets up a framework for how therapy should work, who can offer it, and who can receive it.
Here’s what the new law allows:
- Only natural psilocybin can be used (not synthetic versions)
- Licensed healthcare professionals must guide the treatment
- Therapy must take place in a controlled, supervised setting
- Patients must have a qualifying medical condition
Some of the conditions that qualify for psilocybin therapy include:
- Depression that hasn’t improved with other treatments
- PTSD
- Substance use disorders (like drug or alcohol addiction)
- Anxiety or depression in people with terminal illnesses
The New Mexico Department of Health will run the program and set rules for safety, training, and where treatment can occur.
How Psilocybin Therapy Works
Psilocybin therapy isn’t just about taking a drug and hoping for the best. It’s a guided, three-step process:
- Preparation: Before the session, the patient meets with a trained therapist to discuss goals, expectations, and emotions.
- Administration: The patient takes the psilocybin dose in a calm, supportive environment, and a licensed professional stays with them throughout the experience.
- Integration: After the effects wear off, the patient talks with the therapist about what they experienced and how to use those insights in daily life.
This structure helps people benefit most from their treatment and lowers the risk of negative experiences.
Why This Matters: The Science Behind Psilocybin
Studies from universities like Johns Hopkins and NYU show that psilocybin can help people in ways traditional treatments often can’t. Here’s what researchers have found:
- It can reduce depression and anxiety, sometimes after just one or two sessions.
- It may help people struggling with addiction, like alcohol or tobacco use.
- It provides comfort and peace to people facing terminal illnesses.
- It can increase feelings of connection, emotional strength, and life satisfaction.
Unlike most antidepressants, which must be taken daily, psilocybin sometimes works after just one dose and may continue to help for months.
Natural Psilocybin vs. Synthetic Alternatives
One crucial part of the SB-219 law is that it only allows natural psilocybin, not artificial versions. Many believe natural substances are safer, more effective, and cause fewer side effects.
Choosing natural psilocybin also fits New Mexico’s focus on natural wellness and alternative health practices.
Keeping It Safe: Rules and Oversight
The state created a special advisory board to ensure the program stays safe and helpful. This board will:
- Recommend updates to the program
- Review safety practices
- Suggest new conditions that could qualify for treatment
Therapy sessions must be conducted in approved locations with trained professionals. The psilocybin must be grown, stored, and given out under strict rules. These steps are meant to protect patients and ensure effective results.
States Considering Psilocybin Therapy Laws in 2025
As more research shows the mental health benefits of psilocybin, several U.S. states are now looking at legal ways to allow its medical use.
So far in 2025, more than 30 psychedelic-related bills have been introduced across at least a dozen states, showing growing support for using natural therapies like psilocybin to improve mental health care across the country.
Here are some of the states working on new laws in 2025:
1. Iowa
In April 2025, the Iowa House passed a bill (House File 978) to create a legal psilocybin therapy program. The plan would set up a system for licensed psilocybin production and therapy, similar to Iowa’s medical cannabis program. The state’s Department of Health and Human Services would oversee it.
2. California
California lawmakers introduced a new bipartisan bill in 2025 after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar bill in 2023. This bill would allow adults over 21 to use psilocybin and other psychedelics under medical supervision. The goal is to help treat mental health conditions and substance use issues.
3. Illinois
In early 2025, Illinois proposed a bill to decriminalize and tax psilocybin. Lawmakers hope this will provide more treatment options for mental health conditions and increase revenue for the state.
4. Missouri
Missouri began its 2025 legislative session by introducing a bill focused on psilocybin therapy. While the details are still in development, the bill shows the state’s interest in exploring the use of psychedelics for medical treatment.
The Future of Psilocybin Therapy and SB-219
The legalization of psilocybin therapy marks an exciting time for mental health care and natural wellness.
For people who have tried many treatments without success, psilocybin therapy offers new hope by giving patients a different option—one based on nature and backed by science, treating mental health issues in a more personal and holistic way.
As New Mexico begins offering psilocybin therapy, it’s becoming a leader in a growing movement to bring natural, plant-based treatments into mainstream medicine.
Other states and health organizations will watch closely to see how successful the program is, which may inspire similar efforts in other parts of the country.
